# NTSB CHI78DET37: Beech A55, N511JL, Benton Harbor, MI, September 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 4, 1978
- Place: Benton Harbor, MI · BENTON HARBOR, MI
- Location: 42.1135° N, 86.4472° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Benton Harbor, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1135&lon=-86.4472&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78DET37
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DET37

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3784   78/9/4    BENTON HARBOR,MI    BEECH A55           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 290
        TIME - 2223                    N511JL              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 34 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROSS FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BENTON HARBOR,MI            BENTON HARBOR,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - DOOR/PANEL OPEN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CABIN DOOR OPENED ON TKOF FOR UNDETERMINED REASON.COLLIDED WITH ILS ANTENNA ARRAY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N511JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N511JL-1978-11-03), registration cancelled 1978-11-03, S/N TC453 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-A55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-a55) (registry code 1152704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ross Field

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780904035679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780904035679A), Sep 4, 1978: Beech A56TC, Benton Harbor, MI, Substantial damage. Cabin door opened on tkof for undetermined reason. Collided with intenna array.

## Other investigations on N511JL (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI69F0115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69F0115), Jul 23, 1968: Beech 95-A55 (N511JL), Springfield, IL, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI68F0551](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68F0551), Dec 20, 1967: Beech 95-A55 (N511JL), Lebanon, IL, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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